Spark-retarder for ford engines.



W. G. KROUSE,

SPARK RETARDER FOR FORD ENGINES.

APPLICATION FlLED NOV-23.1916- Pat-entedJune 19, 1917.

gvvuavfioz WILLIAM G. KnoUsE, or WYOMING, Iowa.

SPABK-RETARDER FOR FORD ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 191?.

Application filed November 23, 1916. Serial No. 133,039.

State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark-Retarders for Ford Engines, of which the following is a specification.

he present invention relates to internalcombustion engines and has particular reference to new and useful improvements in automatic spark or ignition retarding devices, an object of my invention being to provide automatic means whereby back-firing of the engine is obviated during the startin or cranking of the same.

Anot er object of my invention is to provide an attachment for association with the cranking or startin mechanism of an internal-combustion engine, whereby in the event that the spark or ignition system of the engine should be advanced, the same will be automatically returned to a retarded position whereby to prevent a premature explosion resulting in a reverse turning of the engine and very often injury to the person starting the same. This action is commonly known as back-firing and may be prevented by retarding the spark. My invention therefore contemplates together with the foregoing objects the provision of means connected with the commutator or distributer and adapted to be engaged by the crank shaft clutch whereby to move the commutator or distributor to a retarded position when starting the engine.

My invention is shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the specification as being adapted for use in connection with the power plant of a Ford automobile, but, of course, it is to be understood that I do not limit my invention to its use in this connection, in view of the fact that the same may be readily applied to other types of manually starte engines.

A further object of my invention is to provide together with the spark retarding device a novel and improved form of belt guide to prevent dislodgment of the fan drivin belt.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the class described which may be applied in operative position on a Ford automobile engine without structural alteration of the same, existing bolts and the like being employed for supporting the device in operative position thereon.

Other objects and advantages to be derived from the use of my improved spark retarding device will appear from the following detail description and the claims, taken with an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the forward end of an internal-combustion engine, showing my attachment applied;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the,

same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective of a belt guide and bearing bracket;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fra'gmental plan of the connection between the commutator and the spark retarding device; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental plan of the belt guide and bearing bracket shown in Fig. 3, the same being shown applied.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein similar characters of reference designate like and corresponding parts throughout the various views, 10 designates the forward end or crank casing of an internal-combustion engine, the same having the usual cylinders 11, crank shaft 12, fan shaft 13 and fan 14. A pulley 15 is mounted on the crank shaft 12 and a belt 16 is trained over said pulley and operatively associated with the fan whereby to drive the same from said crank shaft. The pulley carries a plurality of pins 17 to be engaged by the clutch member 18 carried by the crank spindle 19, said crank spindle having the usual crank (not shown) on the outer free end thereof.

The timer or commutator of the ignition system is shown and designated 20, the same bein mounted in the usual position. The cran casing 10 is provided with an enlargement 21 forming the usual oil entrance port carrying a bolt performing a function which will hereinafter appear.

The structure described in the foregoing is present in any Ford automobile engine and does not form any part of my invention.

The device of my invention includes a belt guide and bearing bracket 22, bent to form a supporting foot 23, the same provided with an opening 24: to receive a bolt 25, said bolt being now in use on the crank case of the Ford engine for connecting parts of the front end of the engine. The bracket 22 is adapted to extend adjacent the belt 16 and tem of the engine should be. advanced.

maintain the same against displacement from operative position.

The bracket 22 is provided with a bearing opening 25, a pin 26 being mounted in said 5 opening to form a journal for the rock arm its entirety, the same being mounted in the usual position on the front end of theengine, the same having a lug 31 projecting radially therefrom.

The usual steering post is provided designated 32, the same having the usual arrangement of spark and gas controlling rods thereon, the spark 'rod being designated the lower free end thereof being connected by means of a rod 34 to the lug 31, the free end of the rod 34 being bent to form a trunnion or bearing portion 3:) extending through the lug 31 and the foot portion 3i) of a connecting link'37. A cotter pin 38 extends through the free end of the trunnion portion 35 of said rod 34 to maintain connection between the link member 37, rod 34: and said lug 31. The free end of the link 37 is pivotally connected as at 39 adjacent the upper end of the rock arm 27 35 a plurality of openings 40 being provided in said rock arm to permit adjustment of the stroke of the same.

In operation. assuming that it is desired to start the engine, the usual adjustment of 40 thespark and gas levers may be made.

However, should the spark be advanced the rod 34 would be moved to the right which movement would be imparted 'to the rock arm 27 thereby disposing the lower end of the same in the path of the clutch 18. The

driver of the car will now proceed to crank the engine for starting. The rock arm will not interfere with such cranking but when the clutch member is forced inwa rdl y and turned to engage the pins 17 the rock arm will be moved out of the path of the same thereby returning the timer to the original position and retarding the spark. This will prevent any premature explosion and of course obviate the danger of injury to the person starting the engine.

It will, of course, be understood that in the showing of the fan one of the blades has been removed therefrom 1n order to more readily illustrate the device of my invention. 1

I do not limit myself to the exact arrangement of the parts thereof, butdesire to lay particular stress upon the automatic features of the device whereby before the engine has been turned over or before the clutch engages the crank shaft the spark is automatically retarded thereby effectively preventing any injury either to the engine or to the person starting the same. Of course, it will be apparent that the device of my invention could be as readily applied to other types of automobile engines as to that Shown. however, the same has been described as particularly adapted for use in connection with a Ford engine because in other types of automobiles the automatic starter is employed to a large extent. However, my invention would be adaptable for use in connection with the self-starter, so that in the event that the latter should become disabled and it should be necessary to crank the engine such cranking may be done without danger.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown and described the device as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be made in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with an internal-combustion engine having a crank shaft, an ignition timer, fan shaft and a belt for imparting motion from said crank shaft to said fan shaft, a cranking spindle having a clutch for detachable engagement with said crank shaft, of a bearing bracket member mounted on one end portion of said engine and having an arm extending to form a guide for said belt. a rock arm pivoted on said bearing and having the lower end thereof disposed in the path of movement of said clutch and adapted to be actuated thereby, and means connecting the other end of said rock arm with the ignition timer whereby to prevent advancement of the spark when cranking the engine.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with an internal-combustion engine having a crank shaft, cranking spindle and clutch, an ignition timer, and a cooling fan driven from said crank shaft, of a bearing bracket mounted on the forward end of said engine and provided with an extension to form a belt guide, a rock arm pivoted, on said bracket, a brace for said bracket, the lower end of said rock arm be ing disposed in the path of movement of said clutch member; a link member connected w th the timer and with the upper end of said rock arm, and a manipulating combination with an internal combustion engine having a crank shaft, cranking spindle and clutch, an igniting timer, of a bracket member having an extension to form a belt guide, a rock arm pivotally mounted on said bracket and adapted to be disposed &

adjacent the cranking spindle of the engine, 10

and a link adjustably connecting the upper end of said rock arm with the igniting timer of the engine, whereby to retard the ignition of the engine when starting and eliminate back-firing.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

WILLIAM G. KROUSE. 

